Improvement in electric couplings for train-telegraphs



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NrrElD 'raras EnrENfr QFFICE.

ANDREW RYDER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC COUPLlNGS FOR TllAlN-TELEGIIAPHS.I

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 182,776, dated October 3, 1876 application filed January 6, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW RYDER, of Oakland, California, have invented an Improvement in Electric Couplings forTrain- Telegraphs, of which the following is a specication: y

My invention relates to an improved coupling for connecting the ends of the electric cords or cables between each car or carriage of a railway train to form a continuous electric communication through the train to the en ginecab. It consists in the use of a hook-coupling, constructed and arranged as hereinafter fully described, that connects the ends ofeach wire when the train is made up, and forms a complete conductor.

The accompanying drawing shows, in Figure 1, the ends and platforms of two cars of a train with the wires ofeach car connected together. Fig. 2 is an end view oi' a car, showing the manner of arranging the wires on the outside. Figs. 3 and 4 are full-size Views of the hookcoupling, onebeing a side view and the other a front view.

This coupling consists of a hook with a spring-beak, a, hinge-d at a', and kept closed by a spring, b, on the back face of the coup- This beak is pressed against the lip c of the hook, so that when the two couplings are brought together there is no space between the bill a and the body of the hook that will allow the hooks to separate or fall apart through any oscillation of the train when in motion. These hooks, when joined together, are always in contact,no matter what their position may be, and the electric connection can only be broken by pulling apart the hooks.

Each coupling, A, has a hole through it from the end to the head for the conductingwire B, that is passed into this hole and held by the screw d. These wires pass through the car along the sides within it and out at each end through the hole over the door, where they are secured on the outside in the manner shown in Fig. 2, the Wire for one cur-. rent being carried to the right about eighteen inches, and the other wire to the left the saine distance, so thatl there shall be a space ot' three feet'between the ends of the wires in order. that they may not touch each other when they are connected with the coupling of the next car, and as theyT swing laterally from the motions given to them when the train is moving.

The Wires B outside of the oar are covered with gntta-percha to protect them from the effects of the weather, and they are left long enough to allow for'the movements between the cars.

In'operating this invention to give a signal the conductor pulls apart the couplings of one wire and connects them together, having thus broken the circuit and sounded the bell in the engine-cab 5 and as many times as the couplings are separated a signal is. given to the engineer. A signal is automatically given when the train separates from accident.

Having thus' fully described my invention, what I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The coupling for train-telegraph described, consisting of the body A, through which the wire'is passed, and held by a set-screw, d, the spring-beak a, and spring b, substantially as described and shown.

Witness my hand this 4th day ofDecember,

ANDREW RYDER. [L.

In presence ot'- WILLiAM W. OsBoRN, EDWARD E. OsBonN. 

